As moms, we all know that hands have the potential to carry disease into our bodies via our eyes, nose and mouth. When we get our kids into the hand-washing habit, we are helping their overall health and potentially ours as well.
Here are some tips to start this habit today:
Are you wondering why your child says she washed her hands when she didn’t? This is a common behaviour for preschoolers. One of the easiest ways to stop the lie is to stop asking a question when you already know the answer. Instead, state what you know: “I didn’t hear water. You need to go back and wash hands.”
We suggest a different script: when your child comes out of the bathroom, say: “Smell check!” If soap was used, the child will be happy to let you smell her hands. If not, she’ll head back in and wash them. No more arguing and no more lies.
Good to Know: It’s also really important to have a small container of hand sanitizer on hand in your purse for those emergency situations where a sink isn’t on hand.
Here’s a fun video that introduces the ‘how-to’s’ of hand washing to your younger ones.
In the movies, holidays are about love, giving, kindness and caring. In the world of real life parenting, that isn’t always the case. No matter what’s in your child’s specially-wrapped package, her sister’s present will be better. Santa leaves way more presents at your neighbour’s house, of course, and while the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence, the envy seems greener right in your own home.
Many siblings spend their lives comparing themselves to each other, vying for Mom and Dad’s attention. When it comes to gifts, the comparisons continue. Rather than hoping that jealousy won’t happen, we can let our kids know that it just might show up during the holidays, when shopping at the mall or when a playmate gets the exact toy they were hoping for.
With young children, the old ‘distract and re-direct’ move may be your best bet. However, if your kids have graduated to the “You-can’t-fool-me-with-that” stage, you need a new plan. Read stories about jealousy (such as When I Feel Jealous by Cornelia Spelman) so that your kids can tell you if and when they’re feeling jealous, and need some help. Acknowledge the feeling rather than telling them not to feel jealous.
It may seem like buying each child a matching gift or distracting one child while the other is opening presents would be the best way to get kids past jealousy. The truth is, it’s protecting them from ever experiencing the emotion AND from the opportunity to learn how to deal with it. If jealousy appears the moments the gifts are opened, try these scripts:
